The All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has rejected the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja over its leadership tussle.
This was as a factional leader of ADA, Umar Ardo, has asked a Federal High Court to stay the execution of its orders directing the INEC to generate and subsequently release Access Code to the Rickett-led leadership of the association.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Leye Igbabo, on Tuesday, the association described the judgment as an attempt to hand control of the association to individuals who no longer belong to the group.
This came a day after the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to release the party registration access code to the Chief Akin Ricketts-led faction.
ADA said it has already directed its legal team to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, disclosing that it is seeking an immediate stay of execution to prevent the enforcement of the ruling.
It added that the court’s decision, if implemented, could disrupt an already completed registration process and create confusion within the association’s leadership structure.
“For clarity, the Court did not order the Independent National Electoral Commission to register the All Democratic Alliance as a political party. Rather, the Court directed INEC to release the registration access code to Chief Akin Ricketts to recommence the registration process.
“The change in the leadership of the Association was effectively and formally communicated to INEC before now, and the Commission had acknowledged and deemed the change to have been effected accordingly.
“Consequently, the registration process has since been completed by the Prince Uche Secondus- and Dr Umar Ardo-led National Executive Committee,” the statement read.
But, in less than 48 hours that the order was issued to INEC, Ardo had filed a motion for stay of the said order at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
He has also through his counsel filed a Notice of Appeal before the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, wherein among others he is asking the appellate court to set aside the orders issued against the electoral umpire.
The motion for stay dated and filed June 30, by his lawyer, Qousim Opakunle was Brought pursuant to Order 32 Rules 1, 2, 3, 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019; and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
He predicated the motion for stay on the grounds that he has filed a Notice of Appeal against the judgement delivered on June 29, 2026, which had granted the reliefs sought by the claimants/ respondents.
Chuks Okocha and Alex Enumah
